1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” Scene One of Split Second takes place in New York City on 28th and Eleventh Avenue. It is present time, July 4th. The scene begins with Val Johnson, a black New York City cop dressed in street clothes, chasing William H. Willis, a white citizen also dressed in street clothes. In the beginning, Val and William are the only two characters introduced in the play. It starts off with immediate action. Val is chasing down William, cursing and screaming offensive commands to William. William, at first, seems calm and apologetic, however, when Val does not comply with Williams wishes to set him free, William becomes enraged. William shouts racial slurs and derogatory remarks towards Val. This is a dramatic situation because William's character shifts emotions and takes on somewhat of a new personality when not given what he wanted. Another dramatic action is Val lying to multiple telling different stories of what truly happened the night of July 4th. Also, when Val stages the crime scene to make it seem as if William was going to attack him.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is. In the beginning, I believed the intrusion was when Val shot William straight through the heart. After killing William with no remorse, Val, without hesitation, stages the crime scene to make it appear as if William was going to attack him with the knife. He uncuffs William and places William's belongings back in his pockets to demonstrate William being unarmed and unrestrained. Now, I believe the intrusion is when Val lied to Parker about what really happened that night. After Val lies is when his internal conflict and guilt sets in. The play is truly about Val's decision to either do what is ethically right or morally right. After Val lies, the play spirals and is intertwined with Val's conscience and outside influence that ultimately leads up to the last scene that reveals Val's decision. Val lying to Parker begins the battle between Val, himself, his father, his wife, his coworkers, and his friends.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? The play takes place in "present time" because it addresses the issues that continue to be relevant to all disenfranchised minorities in America. What was relevant in the 1980's continues to take precedence in the present. This is the reason McIntyre did not give the play a set day in history. No matter when someone reads it, it still comes across relatable because the same issues exist today. Over time, the issue doesn't progress in a positive way. Minorities continue to struggle with racism and blacks and whites continue to struggle with indifference.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will Val tell the truth?" Will Val be able to live with his decision of lying about the murder? Will Val eventually tell the truth about what he has done?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters. Val constantly battles between himself and his family's reputation. Val's father, Rusty, was a cop who followed the rules and never broke the oath. He played by the book and scolded those who tried to cut corners. Val has a conflict with the reputation and legacy his father left because he was afraid his own family and reputation would be collateral damage. In a way, he wanted his father's approval so his guilt would not seem as bad and Val had a family he wanted to protect and refused to serve jail time. He also battled between his own conscience because he knew the difference between what was right and what was wrong. This is why after he continued to lie and tell multiple stories but would also end with the truth. In the moment his actions seemed justified but as he reflected on what happened he realized the consequences of his actions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second. Theatrical moments include the chase between Val and William, Val shooting William, Val staging the crime scene, and Val lying at the board meeting. All of these moments had the reader surprised. Either the reader was appalled with Val's actions or felt an amount of sympathy with Val's character. Some might argue Val's actions were justified, some might say Val's actions were extreme and unethical, nonetheless, this play channels different perspectives from each reader.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) 1. Val shooting William
This is powerful because it goes against the norms of society today. It is commonly a black person getting killed by the police out of rage or discrimination, however, the roles have changed and a black man is in control of a white man's destiny. 2. The Knife
The knife is the key to the entire play. Without the knife, Val would not have been able to frame William. The knife symbolizes the perception that was created by Val to describe the personality of William. Although it may not be completely accurate, it serves as an example of how powerful a small object or a small object can completely change the perception of who you are. 3.Street Clothes
The play repeatdley states that Val wheres street clothes or common clothes no matter the occasion. Val never once wears his police uniform. This can symbolize the concept of Val not being a true cop at heart like his father. Val goes against the oath he took and any ethical thinking that the police academy or his father taught him.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second. Discrimination Internal, Societal, and Individual Conflict Ethical vs Moral
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second? Split Second demonstrates the influence family has on your moral beliefs. Family's opinions influence the individual's way of thinking. It persuades the brain to believe something ethically wrong could be morally right. It can cause internal conflict because while your heart justifies your actions, your conscience invalidates your thoughts. Family and break down an individual because it can feel as if they cannot come to a conclusion on which decision to live with.
Scene One of Split Second takes place in New York City on 28th and Eleventh Avenue. It is present time, July 4th. The scene begins with Val Johnson, a black New York City cop dressed in street clothes, chasing William H. Willis, a white citizen also dressed in street clothes. In the beginning, Val and William are the only two characters introduced in the play. It starts off with immediate action. Val is chasing down William, cursing and screaming offensive commands to William. William, at first, seems calm and apologetic, however, when Val does not comply with Williams wishes to set him free, William becomes enraged. William shouts racial slurs and derogatory remarks towards Val. This is a dramatic situation because William's character shifts emotions and takes on somewhat of a new personality when not given what he wanted. Another dramatic action is Val lying to multiple telling different stories of what truly happened the night of July 4th. Also, when Val stages the crime scene to make it seem as if William was going to attack him.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
In the beginning, I believed the intrusion was when Val shot William straight through the heart. After killing William with no remorse, Val, without hesitation, stages the crime scene to make it appear as if William was going to attack him with the knife. He uncuffs William and places William's belongings back in his pockets to demonstrate William being unarmed and unrestrained. Now, I believe the intrusion is when Val lied to Parker about what really happened that night. After Val lies is when his internal conflict and guilt sets in. The play is truly about Val's decision to either do what is ethically right or morally right. After Val lies, the play spirals and is intertwined with Val's conscience and outside influence that ultimately leads up to the last scene that reveals Val's decision. Val lying to Parker begins the battle between Val, himself, his father, his wife, his coworkers, and his friends.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play takes place in "present time" because it addresses the issues that continue to be relevant to all disenfranchised minorities in America. What was relevant in the 1980's continues to take precedence in the present. This is the reason McIntyre did not give the play a set day in history. No matter when someone reads it, it still comes across relatable because the same issues exist today. Over time, the issue doesn't progress in a positive way. Minorities continue to struggle with racism and blacks and whites continue to struggle with indifference.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val tell the truth?"
Will Val be able to live with his decision of lying about the murder?
Will Val eventually tell the truth about what he has done?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Val constantly battles between himself and his family's reputation. Val's father, Rusty, was a cop who followed the rules and never broke the oath. He played by the book and scolded those who tried to cut corners. Val has a conflict with the reputation and legacy his father left because he was afraid his own family and reputation would be collateral damage. In a way, he wanted his father's approval so his guilt would not seem as bad and Val had a family he wanted to protect and refused to serve jail time. He also battled between his own conscience because he knew the difference between what was right and what was wrong. This is why after he continued to lie and tell multiple stories but would also end with the truth. In the moment his actions seemed justified but as he reflected on what happened he realized the consequences of his actions.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
Theatrical moments include the chase between Val and William, Val shooting William, Val staging the crime scene, and Val lying at the board meeting. All of these moments had the reader surprised. Either the reader was appalled with Val's actions or felt an amount of sympathy with Val's character. Some might argue Val's actions were justified, some might say Val's actions were extreme and unethical, nonetheless, this play channels different perspectives from each reader.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. Val shooting William
This is powerful because it goes against the norms of society today. It is commonly a black person getting killed by the police out of rage or discrimination, however, the roles have changed and a black man is in control of a white man's destiny.
2. The Knife
The knife is the key to the entire play. Without the knife, Val would not have been able to frame William. The knife symbolizes the perception that was created by Val to describe the personality of William. Although it may not be completely accurate, it serves as an example of how powerful a small object or a small object can completely change the perception of who you are.
3.Street Clothes
The play repeatdley states that Val wheres street clothes or common clothes no matter the occasion. Val never once wears his police uniform. This can symbolize the concept of Val not being a true cop at heart like his father. Val goes against the oath he took and any ethical thinking that the police academy or his father taught him.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Discrimination
Internal, Societal, and Individual Conflict
Ethical vs Moral
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Split Second demonstrates the influence family has on your moral beliefs. Family's opinions influence the individual's way of thinking. It persuades the brain to believe something ethically wrong could be morally right. It can cause internal conflict because while your heart justifies your actions, your conscience invalidates your thoughts. Family and break down an individual because it can feel as if they cannot come to a conclusion on which decision to live with.